Fixture assembly for perforated panel



June 23, 1970 o. G. SALAVA ET FIXTURE ASSEMBLY FOR PERFORATED PANEL Filed Jan. 29, 1968 INVENTORS OTTO G. SALAVA ALLAN J. LUCK DALE E. SCHAFERNAK United States Patent US. Cl. 248-223 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An article support fixture including a shank slidably received within a collar, a hook attached to the collar adapted to engage an opening in a perforated panel, a hook on the lower end of the shank and a resilient tongue within the collar to hold the collar in position with respect to the shank by engaging a recess in the shank.

The present invention relates to an article supporting fixture, and more particularly to an improved fixture assembly which locks in place when mounted on a perforated panel.

Many types of fixtures have been developed for use with perforated panels. Such panels are customarily formed of wood fiber hardboard or other material, and are mounted vertically, as a wall covering or the like. The panel is provided with holes or perforations of a desired shape, and fixtures inserted into the perforations are used to support articles on the panel. The most widely used type of fixture is a simple one-piece fixture formed of circular cross-sectional material and including an article supporting portion, which may be a hook or the like, together with a mounting hook insertable into a circular perforation in the panel. It has also been proposed to use fixtures other than circular in section, in which case the perforation may be of a complementary shape.

One ditficulty to which such fixtures are subject is that they are not firmly anchored on the panel. Since they fit loosely in the perforation, they can pivot freely, and can even become dislodged from the panel. Although many fixtures have been developed which lock into place on the panel more or less securely, these have for the most part been unsatisfactory due to being complex and expensive, difiicult to use, and/or bulky and unattractive in appearance. Another difficulty to which known fixtures are subject is that they require substantial clearance behind the perforated panel.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved fixture assembly for use with perforated panel.

Another object is to provide an improved fixture assembly which locks firmly in place on a perforated panel.

A further object is to provide a fixture assembly which requires only small clearance behind a perforated panel.

Briefly, in accordance with the above and other objects and advantages of the invention, one embodiment of the invention may comprise a two part fixture assembly including an article supporting fixture and a fixture supporting member. The article supporting fixture is of any desired shape, and includes a shank portion. The fixture supporting member includes a hook which is insertable into a panel perforation in order to mount the fixture assembly onto the panel, and also includes a collar slidably embracing the shank portion of the fixture. -In accordance with an important feature of the invention, the shank slides in the collar to a position wherein the hook cannot be removed from the perforation, and in which therefore the fixture assembly is securely locked in place.

A more complete understanding of the invention and its objects and advantages may be had from consideration 3,516,634 Patented June 23, 1970 of the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the invention, taken with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, elevational sectional view of a fixture assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention and mounted on a perforated panel attached to a wall;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, rear perspective view, on a reduced scale, of the fixture assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is perspective view illustrating the fixture assembly at one point during the procedure of mounting the fixture assembly on the panel;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the fixture assembly at a subsequent point;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the fixture assembly fully installed; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one alternative embodiment of the invention.

Having reference now to the drawing, there is illustrated a new and improved fixture assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated as a whole by the reference numeral 10. The fixture assembly 10 is illustrated as mounted on a perforated panel or board 12 mounted upon a wall surface 14. The assembly 10 includes an article supporting fixture 16 and a fixture holding member 18, and in accordance with an important feature of the present inyention these are slidably related to one another to the end that the fixture assembly 10 may be firmly anchored in place on the panel 12.

Referring initially to the construction and arrangement of the panel 12, the panel may be formed of any desired material, such as a wood fiber hardboard material. The panel may be of any desired thickness, and preferably is of a height and width sufficient to cover a wall area of appreciable extent. The panel includes a back surface 12a finished in any suitable manner since after installation of the panel the back surface is not visible. A front surface 12b of the panel is preferably treated as by a printing or other finishing operation to provide a decorative wall surface.

In the arrangement illustrated in the drawing, one or more recesses in the form of grooves 20 are provided in the back surface 12a of the panel and the back surface 12a is attached directly against the wall surface 14 as by nails or adhesive or the like. When so attached, the grooves 20 or other recesses provide a clearance between an inner surface 22 defined by the groove 20 and the surface of the wall 14, this clearance providing ample space to permit mounting of the novel fixture assembly of the invention.

It should be understood, however, that the fixture assembly 10 may also be used with a known type of perforated hardboard panel including a continuous planar rear surface and including perforations extending between the front and rear surfaces of the panel. When this type of panel is used, it is normally mounted on furring strips or the like attached to the wall in order to provide clearance behind the perforations.

In order to permit fixtures to be suspended on the panel 12, the panel is provided with a number of perforations 24 dispersed over the area of the panel, only one of which is shown in the drawing. In the illustrated panel 12, the perforation 24 extends from the front surface 12b to the inner surface 22 defined by the groove 20.

Proceeding now to a more complete description of the novel fixture assembly 10 of the present invention, as was noted above the assembly 10 consists of the article supporting fixture 16 slidably related to the fixture holding member 18. The fixture 16 is formed of a single length of rod or wire stock of square cross section, and

includes both a shank portion 16a and an article supporting portion 16b projecting at an angle from the shank portion. The article supporting portion 16b is in the form of a so-called straight hook, but it should be understood that other shapes, such as a round hook or others, may be used if desired.

In order to support the article supporting fixture 16 at a desired location on the panel 12, the assembly 10 includes the fixture holding member 18. The member 18 includes a hook or hooking portion 26 as well as a collar 28 of square cross section adapted slidingly to embrace the shank portion 16a of the fixture 16. The hook 26 includes a leg portion 26a projecting in a substantially perpendicular direction from the axis of the collar 28, and a terminal leg portion 26b extending substantially parallel to the axis of the collar, these legs being interconnected by a radius bend 26c.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the perforations 24 in the panel 12 comprise narrow, elongated slots, and the hook 26 of the fixture supporting member 18 is preferably also narrow and elongated in cross section so as to be complementary in shape to the slots. This arrangement prevents or restricts rocking movement or pivotal movement of the fixture assembly when mounted to the panel. However, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the perforations 24 may be formed in any other desired shape, and the hook 26 may be formed to mate with any desired type of perforation.

In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the shank portion 16a of the article supporting fixture 16 is slidable through the collar 28 of the fixture holding member 18 to the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 in. order firmly to anchor or lock the assembly in place on the panel 12. In this position, the shank portion 16a and the hook 26 cooperate to clamp against opposite sides of the panel 12 and the fixture 10 cannot be removed from the perforation 24. As a result, the assembly 10 cannot be dislodged or removed from the panel 12 and is secured firmly in place.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, the assembly 10 is mounted on the panel 12 by sliding the fixture holding member 18 downwardly on the shank portion of the fixture 16 to the position illustrated in FIG. 3. In this position, the hook 26 extends beyond the end of the shank portion 16a and the terminal leg 26b is not opposite the shank portion. [In this position the terminal leg 26b can be inserted into the perforation 24, as illustrated in FIG. 3, without the fixture 16 being in the way.

Once the terminal leg 26b is inserted into the perforation 24, the fixture 16 is rotated upwardly, or in a counterclockwise position as viewed in FIG. 1, to the position of FIG. 4 in which the shank portion 16a is substantially parallel with the front surface 12b of the panel 12. In this position, the hook 26 is fully inserted into the perforation 14, but the fixture assembly 10 is not locked into position. In order to firmly anchor the assembly 10 in a position in which the hook 26 cannot be withdrawn from the perforation, the shank 16a is slid downwardly through the collar 28 to a position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, wherein the shank portion 16a prevents the fixture 16 from being rotated in a downward direction. In this position the assembly 10 is firmly anchored in place on the front of the panel since the hook 26 cannot be removed.

The assembly 10 of the invention may be provided with the fixture holding member 18 already mounted upon the article supporting fixture 16, in which case the assembly can be mounted on a board only in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 3-5. Alternatively, the fixture 16 and the member 18 might be provided as separate elements. In this case, if desired, the fixture holding member 18 may be mounted in a perforation prior to assembly with the fixture 16. After the member 18 is mounted, the fixture 16 may be inserted through the collar 28 in order to complete the assembly of the fixture and to lock the assembly in place.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, the assembly 10 is provided with a novel latching arrangement for holding and latching the fixture 16 and holding member 18 in position relative to one another. Thus there is provided an inwardly bent tongue portion 28a of the collar 28 adapted frictionally to bear against the surface of the shank portion 16a of the fixture 16. The frictional force developed between the tongue 28a and the shank portion 16a preferably is sufiicient to frictionally clamp the collar in any position on the shank 16a to which it is pushed.

In addition, in order releasably to latch the assembly 10 in the locked or anchored condition on the panel 12, the shank portion 16a is provided with a latching recess 30 within which the tongue portion 28a is seated when the shank 16a is moved to the locking position. The upper edge of the tongue 28a engages a shoulder 32 at the upper portion of the recess 30 in order to prevent the fixture from being pulled downwardly through the collar 28 even if a heavy article is supported on the fixture.

It should be understood that the cross-sectional shape of the shank portion 16a of the fixture 16 and the cooperating shape of the collar 28 may be varied as desired. For example, referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated one alternative embodiment of the invention, designated as a whole by the reference numeral 10 which is similar in many respects to the assembly 10 described above. The assembly 10' includes a fixture 16' having a narrow, elongated cross-section. The assembly also includes a fixture holding member 18 having a collar 28 of a shape to mate with the fixture 16'.

The arrangement 10' differs from the arrangement 10 also in that the upper portion of the shank 16' is provided with a head or abutment 34 which prevents the collar 28' from being removed from the fixture.

It should be appreciated that one advantage of the present invention is that only minimal clearance is required behind a perforated panel in order to mount the fixture assembly. In the illustrated arrangement the hook 26 is quite compact in size and shape, and never extends more than a small distance beyond the inner surface 22 at the rear of the panel. Accordingly, the fixture 10 is well suited for use with panel having recesses formed in its back surface and attached directly upon a wall surface. As noted above, however, the fixture may also be used with conventional perforated panel.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A fixture assembly for use with a panel having at least one perforation therethrough, said fixture assembly comprising an article support fixture including a shank and an article supporting means, and a fixture supporting means including a holding means slidably related to said shank and a single hook projecting from said holding means, said holding means being slidable with respect to said shank to a first position wherein said hook can be inserted into a perforation in the panel, and said shank being slidable with respect to said holding means after insertion to a second position wherein said shank prevents said hook from being removed from the perforation.

2. The fixture assembly of claim 1, additionally comprising latch means engageable between said shank and said holding means for holding said shank in said second position with respect to said holding means.

3. A fixture assembly for attachment to a perforated panel, said fixture assembly comprising:

an article supporting fixture including a shank adapted to lie substantially parallel to and to engage the front surface of the panel when the fixture assembly is in place;

a fixture supporting member having a holding means slidably attached to said shank and having a hooking means fixed to said holding means;

said hooking means including a first segment projecting from said shank and a second segment parallel to said shank;

said hooking means being slidable on said shank to a first position adjacent an end of said shank wherein said second segment extends beyond said end of said shank and can be inserted into a panel perforation; and

said shank being slidable on said holding means to locate said holding means at a second position spaced from said end of said shank wherein said second segment is opposite said shank and wherein said shank holds said hooking means within the perforation.

4. A fixture assembly for use with perforated panel,

said assembly comprising:

an article supporting fixture having a shank segment of uniform cross section and having an article support segment angularly extending from one end of said shank segment;

a fixture supporting member including a collar slidably embracing said shank segment;

a hooking portion projecting from said collar and insertable into a panel perforation;

said collar being slidable on said shank segment between a first position for locking said hooking portion in a panel perforation and a second position for releasing said hooking portion from the panel; and

resilient means interposed between said collar and said shank segment for frictionally holding said collar in position on said shank segment.

5. The fixture assembly of claim 4, said resilient means comprising an inwardly bent tongue of said collar engaging said shank segment.

6. The fixture assembly of claim 5, said shank segment including a recess receiving said tongue in said first position of said collar for releasably latching said collar,

7. A fixture assembly for use with perforated panel,

and comprising:

a holding member including a hook insertable through a perforation from the front surface of the panel and engagea'ble with the rear surface of the panel adjacent the perforation;

said holding member including a collar fixed to said hook, the axis of said collar being substantially parallel to the front surface of the panel when the hook is in place;

and an article supporting fixture including a shank slidable in an axial direction through said collar to a position wherein said shank engages the front panel surface and said hook engages the rear panel surface opposite said shank and removal of the hook from the panel is prevented.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,724,811 11/ 1955 Poupitch' 21 I87 X 2,859,008 11/ 1958 Zimmer 248223 2,933,277 4/ 1960 Messier 248223 2,952,343 9/ 1960 Modrey 248224 3,306,564 2/ 1967 Nickel 248225 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner J. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

